Nice To Meet You, Beijing
Fresh Home-made Story by Faz Zulkifli
Last April 2012, standing in the middle of Winter & Spring, me and my organization mates, JPK Anggerik 2011/2012 went on a tour to Beijing. We traveled by a Muslim package tour provided by al-Nameera Tour & Management. You'll have a lot of opportunity to travel if you are active in organizations in university. Even though you'll experience a lot of difficulties but the experiences gained and the bond you nurtured are priceless man. And we are still keeping our bond until the very now, staying by the name of 'adik-beradik' or siblings forever :]
So I'll story briefly the cool and the unique or strange stuffs on the go. We went during the most comfort season and weather. Still cold, foggy and cloudy with fresh, bright flowers incoming. We hit the food first after hours on airplane. The trick is, restaurants with green signboards are mostly served with Halal food. And yeah, their foods are quite tasteless but I'm good. Some of us brought sambal.
We went to places, The Forbidden City, Ho Chi Minh, Bird Nest Stadium, Summer Palace, acrobatic show, manufacturers of specialised items made in China such as, pearls, crystals, gems, silks, teas, etc.., and of course, we went to one of the 7 wonders of the world, Great Wall of China too.
As this is an academic trip (well..most likely), we visited the Beijing Language & Culture University (BLCU) to share some new perspectives but it turned out not to be such a friendly visit. However, the surrounding is very environmental friendly. It feels as if you are really somewhere else from the outside world, so very conducive for study.
A form of respect, we said hello to the Embassy of Malaysia in Beijing too. Sadly, not a friendly visit either but funny though when Kak Ju actually asked the officer in charged with a very formal language if he is married, "Sudah berkeluarga?" -zaman bile ntah orang masih guna bahasa baku sebegini. Kak Ju terpegun sbb handsome la tu. We startled for a moment and actually laughed out loud in the meeting. Well, at least it broke the unfriendly atmosphere around the meeting room.
And what makes me very grateful is to pray at someplace besides Malaysia. Unexplainable though why. But it feels really great and humble. Subuh prayer is actually on 4 o'clock and there's a wake up call in our hotel service. I didn't realize there's a wake up service as me and my roommate, Kak Nani really didn't hear the wake up call most of the mornings. Dua-dua tidur mati.
Before I took off, here are some cool and strange stuffs :
So I'll story briefly the cool and the unique or strange stuffs on the go. We went during the most comfort season and weather. Still cold, foggy and cloudy with fresh, bright flowers incoming. We hit the food first after hours on airplane. The trick is, restaurants with green signboards are mostly served with Halal food. And yeah, their foods are quite tasteless but I'm good. Some of us brought sambal.
Hello, Beijing!
Green color symbolizes Halal
Money in the shell
It was raining when we were at the Summer Palace. All became Power Rangers except me and Kak Iz, we let the rain poured all over us
Park at Bird Nest stadium
We met Westlife on the way down!
Environmental friendly much? Try imagine autumn - A-M-A-Z-I-N-G-!
Embassy's meeting room. Aww rindunye meeting sesama JPK
Before I took off, here are some cool and strange stuffs :
- 1. There's KFC restaurant nearby our hotel. (???..?) Hahaha there's nothing strange about that! You may kill me. But KFC delivery service is delivered by bicycle.
- 2. Most kids wear ass-less pants. Details, "The pants have an intentional gaping hole in the pants. Chinese babies do not wear diapers and they urinate and defecate on the streets in China"
- 3. You can get cheap prices of branded stuffs in the market but you'll have to endure some serious mouth-fights. Stressful! I've cut down one item to about 90% of the original price and I've been scolded, I've been slap, I've been yelled, Ive been pulled over and so on. Don't be cheated by the price. Its a lot, lot, lot cheaper.
- 4. At a certain height of Great Wall, if you succeeded climb over there, you'll get a free medal.
- 5. Get a real taste of strawberries! There are all sweet and cheap.
- 6. My friend gave 100 yuan for a 10 yuan raincoat and the seller returned the balance in Russian dollars without my friend noticing as we were in a hurry to hop off from the bus to the rainy weather. She actually yelled 'GIVE ME BACK MY MONEY' to all the sellers after she noticed it. My heart dropped down hearing it. She really yelled it out loud.
- 7. We experienced taking wudhu' by a very hot water and a very cold water.
One of the menu we've ate. Yummy!
Maybe for the parents to watch their kids..?
Some of the mosques we have performed prayers in
Look out for our birthmark we left on the Great Wall's wall ;]
谢谢.再见
